NEWS: Law Society claims new AML rules will ‘unfairly’ burden UK law firms

Regulatory Watch News

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  Scam alert related to banks

  HKMA

  April 27, 2026

  The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on the HKMA website.  

  Bank	Type of Scam
  The Bank of East Asia, Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
  Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
  Chong Hing Bank Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
  OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
  China CITIC Bank International Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

   

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  Sejean Reid and Whitney Charles charged with fraud and money laundering

  FINTRAC

  April 24, 2026

  TORONTO – The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announces that Mr. Sejean Reid and Ms. Whitney Charles of Oakville, Ontario have each been charged under the Criminal Code with fraud over $5,000 pursuant to s. 380(a)(a) and laundering proceeds of crime pursuant to s. 462.31. The OSC alleges that between December 2021 and December 2023, Mr. Reid and Ms. Charles ran an investment scheme called ‘Golden Zone Corporation’. Investors were told, according to the OSC’s allegations, the funds were being professionally traded on well-known platforms, that their money was protected, and were promised weekly returns of 5–9%. The OSC believes these claims were false. About $4 million was collected from investors, but only a small amount was used for real investment trading. Most of the money was instead used to pay earlier investors, or for the personal use of Mr. Reid or Ms. Charles.

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  Romania: Four indicted for fraud involving funds for young farmers

  European Public Prosecutor's Office

  April 24, 2026

  (Luxembourg, 24 April 2026) –The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) has filed an indictment at Cluj Court against four individuals for suspected fraud involving funds for young farmers, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). According to the evidence, the defendants submitted false and inaccurate documents to Romania’s Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR), responsible for managing EU funds, thereby attempting to unlawfully obtain €115 000 (RON 575 000), of which they received €45 000 (RON 225 000).